So begins another year of weekly photographic challenges, which I intend to keep doing on a week-by-week basis for as long as I can keep it up, or am motivated to do so.

A few of these are similar to some challenges from last year, and in my opinion, I have bested myself at nearly every turn. 😊

Let’s see if you agree!

1. Self-Portrait

I returned from the east for holidays, and on one weekend morning, before I got around to enjoying the sunshine, I had to snap a self-portrait.

I used a Happy Light in place of actual photographic lighting, and am posing in front of a wall map that a very good friend gave me as a Christmas gift.

I wanted to wear my sunglasses, as I had done that in last year’s shot. Unfortunately, they have an issue.

One of the lenses came out of the frame as a result of a catastrophic fall on an airport escalator on the way back from Thanksgiving, and I guess it was replaced in such a way that it isn’t properly polarized currently.

What this meant is that in straight-ahead shots, I was effectively looking through sunglasses glass with my one eye, and transparent glass with the other. And, unless I change my name to Dr. Lawrence Jacoby, that ain’t a good look.

So, I went for a sideways shot.

In other self-critique, I’m a bit back lit, and my front lighting doesn’t compensate for it. The lines are a bit wonky, and there’s a bunch of junk behind me.

But, I think it captures the mood, and my essence better than last year.

2. Hello From…

By this point in the month, I was out and about, trying to visit the Redwoods, and catch a break of sunshine in California.

I lacked the ability to really curate or edit my photos, as I was staying in a tent, so I picked this one at random, tweaked it slightly on my iPhone, and uploaded it… still from my tent.

It’s a sunset at Agate Beach in Sue-meg State Park near Eureka, California.

You’ll see more of that… later.

3. Complimentary Colors

Again, this theme is similar to one from last year.

In March’s edition, I was supposed to focus on a color relationship, and picked blue and orange as complimentary colors, over this photo of a dirt-biker.

This year’s photo also focused on a vehicle, with complimentary colors, with a similar relationship.

Substitute blue and orange for teal and orange.

Substitute a dirt bike in the distance for a vintage fifth wheel up close.

And, substitute some hyper-saturated post-processing for a more subtle-y unnatural picture profile from Sigma Photo Pro, and the result is…

I saw this fifth wheel parked outside the Pacific City Library (in Pacific City, Oregon), coincidentally the same exact place where I wanted to use the Wifi to join a work meeting before checking into my hotel later in the day.

I parked as far away from it as possible, and took a few close-up wide-angle shots.

I’m not sure that this is the best framing I could have done, but I think it shows some aspects of the vehicle well. I wanted a head-on look, but I still wanted to show a bit of the profile.

I am sure that I am very happy with how this turned out in terms of presenting complimentary colors.

4. Minimalism

I came back from Oregon, a bit tired, and a bit weary after a lot of running around.

Shortly thereafter, I discovered I was sick, and a few days later, I tested positive for COVID-19 on a self-administered rapid test. It felt almost as if all my efforts to avoid people had been for not.

But, at least my symptoms seemed mild, and I am hoping for a swift recovery.

In any case, this means that for my entire week of photography, I didn’t left the apartment, save for occasionally checking the mail.

So in many senses I was practicing minimalism: doing minimal things, thinking minimal thoughts, being minimally inspired to take photographs…

Then, I got to the point where I had to do something for this challenge.

It’s an envelope with a peak of a card that my friend Rebecca once gave me. It adorns my fridge thusly.

I used an on-camera flash, titled to offset, which I realized meant that a full shot of the envelope would have a crooked shadow.

And that finishes this week. And this month.